Electric heater for steam radiators



March 17, 1936. F. A. FOGG ELECTRIC HEATER FOR STEAM RADIATORS FiledSept. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet n nA/mmmmmwfl 7LLLLLLLLL-bm" W m m March.17, 1936. F. A. FOGG ELECTRIC HEATER FOR STEAM RADIATORS Filed Sept. 19,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIOIIIIIIIIIIV fires? Patented Mar. 17, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC HEATER FOR, STEAM RADIATORS 5Claims.

This invention relates to an electric heater for steam radiators, and itgenerally aims to provide a construction affording a fully equippedsteam heating unit out of a radiator to which it is at- 5 tached orconnected.

A particular object is to provide a construction wherein the auxiliaryor accessory parts of the heater are very compact and occupy a minimumspace within the room relatively to the size of 10 the radiator.

The more specific objects and advantages will in part be pointed out andotherwise become apparent from a consideration of the descriptionfollowing taken in connection with accompanying 15 drawings illustratingan operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

w Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a radiator equipped with myimprovement;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional 20 view taken through themajor part of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

5 Figure 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a detail cross section taken on the line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a detail section taken on the line 30 II of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of one of the core blocks used in theheating unit; and

Figures 9 and 10 are opposite end views of the 7 block of Figure 8.

35 Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 designates a conventionalsteam radiator, in one end of which, adjacent to base, a screw-threadedopening II is provided, into which an attaching pipe I2, preferably ofbrass, is screw-threaded as 40 shown, said pipe I2 preferably having anannular flange I3 at its outer end. Disposed against said flange I3 is agasket I4, and against said gasket an annular flange I5 is disposed.Such flange I5 is integral with a heater tube I6, preferably of 45copper, and closed at its inner end as shown.

Such tube I6 extends through the gasket I4 and pipe I2 and is preferablyof substantially the same length as the radiator afforded to givemaximum heating efficiency. Said flange I3, gasket I4, and flange I5 arepreferably secured together as a unit, as by means of bolts I8 extendingtherethrough. Said bolts I8 also preferably pass through and secure ametallic plate or disc I9 against the flange I 5. It will be realizedthat the 55 tube I2 and all of the parts connected together by the boltsI8 constitute a unit which is attachable and detachable at the screwthread II.

A vertical plate or disc 20 is disposed against the plate or disc I9,and it has a shelf 2I mounting a control box or housing 22. Such shelfor plate 20 is secured to the plate I9 through the medium of screws 23passing through the shelf and engaging screw-threaded openings in theplate I9.

Disposed within the heater tube I6 and plates l 9 and 20 are one or moreblocks of suitable insulation designated 24, grooved in the uppersurface 25 thereof so as to accommodate a heating coil 26 of nichromesteel or other metallic wire, the ends or terminals of Which passthrough insulating bushings 28 in an asbestos body 21. Said body isfastened to the plate as by means of bolts or screws 3|.

A pipe 33, preferably of copper, extends through the housing 22, beingfastened thereto and com- 20 municateswith a nipple 34 formed on the attaching pipe I2, the adjacent section of pipe 33 preferably beingscrew-threaded to the nipple as at 35. There is sufiicient current inthe pipe I2 above the tube IE to enable circulation of the Water, andwater and sediment may be withdrawn or drained off from the radiatorthrough an outlet nipple 36 formed on attaching pipe l2, and to which anormally closed drain valve 37 is screwthreaded, as at 38.

The terminals of the heating coil 26, designated 26, are connected to abinding post 39 in the form of bolts, secured to the packing 29 andplate 30. Conductors 40, preferably asbestos covered, extend from thebinding post 40 to a switch box 4 I which is operable from the exteriorof box 22, to turn the electric current on or off. Such conductors underbox 4| extend to a thermostatically-controlled switch 42 of aconventional construction, having a dependent 43 removably extendinginto box 22, and above which the pipe 33 is coiled as at 44.

Water is adapted to be supplied in the radiator through a filling pipe45 connected to the pipe 33, the upper or filling end of pipe 45 isnormally closed steam tight by a removable cap 46. The device mayoperate with water at any predetermined level within the radiator I0 andthe pipe 33 preferaby has a Water gauge 41 connected therein and locatedwithin the box 22. A pressure gauge 48 is also connected to the pipe 33by branch conduit 49, and a safety valve 5! is connected to the top of apipe 50 also in communication with pipe 33, as shown.

A normally closed pet cock 53 is provided in the pipe 33 adjacent to topof the box 22.

In order to operate the apparatus, pet cock 53 is opened and cap 45 isremoved. Thereupon water is poured through the tube 45 until the heatertube [I 6 is submerged to the desired extent. Thereupon cap 46 isreplaced and switch 4| is turned to on position. The thermostatic switch42 is then set at about half way on its dial and left in that positionuntil steam starts to flow freely from pet cock 53. Then said pet cook53 is closed and the steam gauge 48 watched until it indicates four orfive pounds pressure, whereupon the thermostatic switch 42 is set inorder to trip at that pressure, or said switch may be set to trip at anydesired pressure within the range for which it isv designed, which willusually be from zero to ten pounds pressure. The operation thereafter isautomatic, hence as the steam pressure drops, the thermostat again turnson the current. This action will be indefinite, thus insuring a steady,even pressure eflecting a saving in electric current, for the reasonthat when the thermostat cuts off the current, the radiator will stillbe putting out heat and the intervals occur frequently.

Various changes may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a radiator, a pipedetachably connected to said radiator having a flange extendingtherefrom, a heater tube carried thereby extending into the radiator andhaving a flange connected to said first flange, heating coil meanswithin the tube, a circulating pipe connected to the first-mentionedpipe and connected to the radiator, a thermostatic switch coacting withthe circulating pipe, electric circuit means to which said heating meansand said thermostatic switch are connected.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a radiator, a pipedetachably connected to said radiator having a flange extendingtherefrom, a heater tube carried thereby extending into the radiator andhaving a flange connected to said first flange, heating coil meanswithin the tube, a circulating pipe connected to the first-mentionedpipe and connected to the radiator, a thermostatic switch coacting withthe circulating pipe, electric circuit means to which said heating meansand said thermostatic switch are connected, a filling pipe for thesecond-mentioned pipe, and a pressure gauge for said second-mentionedpipe.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a radiator, a pipeattached to said radiator, a

' pipe, and said second-mentioned pipe being coiled about saidthermostatic switch.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a radiator, a pipeattached to said radiator, a

heating tube having a flange, a flange on the first-mentioned pipe, aplate engaging the firstmentioned flange, a means securing said plateand flanges together as a unit, a bracket, a means securing said bracketto one of said plates, a housing supported by said bracket, acirculating pipe attached at one end to said radiator, said circulatingpipe extending through said housing and communicating with thefirst-mentioned pipe, a thermostatic switch carried by the housingcoacting with the second-mentioned pipe, a heating means within thetube, a means connecting terminals of said heating means secured to saidbracket, and electric circuit means connected to said terminals and tothe thermostatic control switch.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a radiator, a pipeattached to said radiator, a heating tube having a flange, a flange onthe first-mentioned pipe, a plate engaging the firstmentioned flange, ameans securing said plate and flanges together as a unit, a bracket, ameans securing said bracket to one of said plates, a housing supportedby said bracket, a circulating pipe attached at one end of saidradiator, said circulating pipe extending through said housing andcommunicating with the first-mentioned pipe, a thermostatic switchcarried by the housing coacting with the second-mentioned pipe, aheating means within the tube, a means connecting terminals of saidheating means secured to said bracket, and electric circuit meansconnected to said terminals and to the thermostatic control switch, saidheating means comprising a heating coil, groove block meansaccommodating said coil, a water gauge on the second-mentioned pipelocated within the housing, a pressure gauge connected with thesecond-mentioned pipe, and a safety pipe and valve connected with saidsecondmentioned pipe disposed exteriorly of the hous- FOREST A. FOGG.

